Guide helps Alberta landowners get the most out of wind energy

Sept. 16, 2010

EDMONTON, AB – The
Pembina Institute has released a timely guide that describes what Alberta
landowners need to know about wind power development in their communities.

Pembina's
new Landowners' Guide to
Wind Energy in Alberta helps landowners
understand the many aspects of wind developments, including revenue streams,
how developments are located, and the potential benefits and impacts on the
environment, health and landowners.

"Wind
energy can be a win-win for the environment and economic diversification in
Alberta. We want to help landowners understand how they can benefit from
getting involved and the risks they may encounter," said Tim Weis, Director of
Renewable Energy for the Pembina Institute and the lead author of the guide.

The
guide contains information about wind energy, the electricity market, health
and environmental impacts, economic benefits and the approval process, and even
provides advice on negotiating with developers.

Alberta
was a wind power pioneer in Canada, and the industry currently produces about
two per cent of Alberta's electricity supply. Its share will continue to grow
to between 10 to 20 per cent over coming decades.

While
wind energy is one of the most benign sources of electricity, it does have some
impacts, not only on the local landscape, but also on the surrounding
ecosystem. In most cases these impacts can be minimized by ensuring that local
voices are heard in the development process.

The
guide is of interest to landowners, municipal and provincial governments,
agricultural groups, environmental groups, wind developers and utility
companies.

Alberta
needs a lot of new wind power if it is going to clean up its electricity
system, currently the most polluting in Canada. Alberta's wind capacity could
increase ten-fold with projects already at various stages of development. Globally,
wind energy is growing at 30 per cent per year.

"It's
important that we do it right, and we hope this guide can help," said Weis.